Characters:Adonthell:Kalan

Kalan Thrace

An idealistic young man, about 16 years old. Kalan is very loyal to friends and family, but when dreams are involved neither can hold him back. Kalan is energetic and physically adept, a natural adventurer. Mentally however, he has much to learn. Kalan is a little more idealistic than realistic and often find himself surprised by his dreams not being what he expects them to be. But he recovers quickly and if off in search of another dream.

Story Overview

Story begins with Kalan arguing with his father and leaving the house. He is determined to lead a more exciting life than his merchant forebears, so he is planning to join the City Guard. Kalan approaches the City Guard at their headquarters and they inform him that there is a position, but the competition is pretty stiff. He wants to try anyway, confident that he'll win. He is informed there will be a combat, and the winner will be chosen as the new member of the City Guard. Kalan agrees and gets advice (instruction for the player) from various Guard members. The fight occurs and Kalan wins, but he is turned down in favor of a half-elf competitor who they say won his fight much easier than Kalan did. They tell Kalan to get more experience before trying again. Kalan is depressed and begins to leave, but is stopped by an older member of the Guard. He saw the fight and believes Kalan has some potential, so he tells him of the Counsel's search for a talented adventurer. Kalan goes off with renewed optimism to try out for the voyage.

Opening script

Todo: make better use of dialogue engine's abilities!

Black Screen	Text appears in white or other appropriate colour.
Text	Kalan! Text vanishes for a moment.
Text	Kalan?
Fade in - Music in	The scene is Kalan's bedroom. An older woman, apparently his mother enters. The room is not tidy, littered with cast-off bits of armour, broken weapons, etc. The bed is empty.
Mother	Oh, where is that boy?
Sfx	Door closing
Kalan	from off screen Morning, mother!
Fade out - Fade in	The scene changes in a quick fade to the kitchen of Kalan's home. The room is narrow and it is apparent that the home is little more than kitchen and bedrooms. The room is comfortable and it looks as if much time is spent here. Mother enters through a door in the back. Kalan is standing in the front, already dressed.
Mother	And where have you been? I went to wake you and you'd already gone. To worry your poor mother like that, you'll be the death of me yet.
Kalan	Ha ha, you'll survive. I was just too excited to sleep so I got up early and went for a walk. Nothing to worry about, Mother, I can take care of myself.
Mother	I wonder. So you're still set on this fool scheme of yours. I wonder if you'd be better off taking up some decent trade.
Kalan	The city Guard is a decent trade, Mother. I wish you'd understand that.
Mother	I understand they're a bunch of ruffians who strut about the city all day acting high and mighty. I don't want you giving yourself airs like that lot.
Kalan	Oh, you don't understand anything. Besides, the tryout for the Guard is today and if I back out now I'll look like a coward.
Mother	Better a coward than a fool. Promise me, Kalan. Promise me you won't do anything foolish.
Kalan	Oh, all right. If it'll make you stop nagging me.
Mother	That's better. Now I can't stop you, so you'd best be off before I decide to lock you in your room.
Kalan	You are funny today, aren't you Mother? Right, then, I'll be back soon with my Guard uniform. And I'll expect you to salute! Kalan leaves.
Mother	I only hope you keep your promise.
Fade out - Fade in	Outside of Kalan's home, a few neighbors and Friends of Kalan's are standing about. Kalan should be allowed free motion to speak with the people. The buildings are close together here, and narrowly built as row houses. [The Neighbours and Friends aren't essential to the plot, so there can be more added, or some taken away from the following without harming anything]
Neighbour 1	I only hope you don't make your poor mother worry.
Neighbour 2	I know your mother doesn't approve, but you go show them what you're made of.
Neighbour 3	What will it be like with someone from our neighborhood in the Guard? Is it possible?
Neighbour 4	Rumour has it that the selection of Guards isn't always as fair as it should be.
Friend 1	All right! Go get em, Kalan!
Friend 2	Good luck Kalan. I know you can do it.
Friend 3	Watch your back out there. Those Guards are tricky.
Friend 4	Are you going to be a Guard? That's so great! When the player is ready, Kalan will exit the scene by walking down the street.
Fade out - Fade in	Guard house - interior The Guard house is essentially little more than a barracks with an area for sparring and practice combat. The area isn't terribly tidy, and is littered with armour, weapons and the assorted possessions of the Guardsmen. A number of Guards are loafing about. One sits near the door through which Kalan enters.
Kalan	Uh, hi. I, um...
Guard 1	You must be that Kalan kid. I heard some runt was gone come entertain us.
Kalan	I'm Kalan, yeah.
Guard 1	(pauses for a moment) Yeah, you'll do.
Kalan	You...you mean I can join?
Guard 1	Hah! Listen, kid, I just won't tell you to get lost right now. You look meaty enough that we can give you a try. But if you lose, you get out of here right away. Fair enough?
Kalan	Uh, yeah. Fair enough.
Guard 1	You go that right. Now go talk to those guys [gestures at other Guards]. They'll get you set up. Kalan can now speak to the other Guards. One large Guard at the other end of the building is the one he'll fight, and is referred to here as "Rufus".
Guard 2	You're gonna take on Rufus? You'll need something to protect that skinny hide of yours, then. I've got what you need. [Kalan receives sword and basic armour] You need to know how to use that stuff, kid? [Kalan has a choice of yes or no]
Guard 2	[if yes, explains equipment and basic combat][if no, then says the following] You're pretty cocky for a young'un. I like that. Hope Rufus doesn't hurt you too bad. [As with the Neighbours and Friends, the number is optional. The exception is Guard 3, who is a young man they've already chosen for the spot but is in on the joke]
Guard 3	Good luck to you out there. I'd really like to see what you're made of.
Kalan	Thanks. Do you think I stand a chance?
Guard 3	I think you'll do great. Give it all you've got. [random Guards]
Guard 4	Getting to be a Guard takes guts! You think you've got guts! Then you'd better be ready to prove it.
Guard 5	Hmph! Bad news for the Guards when we start taking on children. Go home to your mommy, boy.
Guard 6	Rufus is one of our best fighters. You don't stand a chance. [If player hasn't gotten equipment]
Rufus	Stop kidding around already and get your stuff. I'm starting to get bored here. [If player has gotten equipment]
Rufus	Hey, squirt. You ready to go? [If player answers yes]
Rufus	Let's go, then. I can use the exercise. [If player answers no]
Rufus	C'mon, get on with it or get out already. [Rufus will lose the fight, of course. If the player starts to lose, Rufus will become less aggressive, or possibly taunt Kalan, or perhaps his armour class could be reduced if things are going poorly for Kalan.] After the battle, Rufus will return to his place to rest.
Rufus	You're tougher than you look, but it's not good enough.
Kalan	What do you mean? Kalan looks around but no one answers.
Kalan	What's going on? Aren't I a Guard now?
Sfx	Laughter Guard 1 comes up to Kalan.
Guard 1	All right, this has been fun but it's time for you to get home and take care of your Mother.
Kalan	But I won the combat! I should get the spot on the city Guard!
Guard 1	You thought we'd make a little twit like you one of the city Guard? Don't make me laugh. We gave that spot to Arvis over here. Guard 3 steps forward
Guard 3	You were a funny one. I haven't had a laugh like that in a long while.
Kalan	It was all a lie...
Sfx	Laughter Kalan says nothing more and strides out of the building.
Fade out - Fade in	Guard house - Exterior Kalan, still in shock, walks slowly away from the Guard house. After a few steps, there is a sound behind him.
Sfx	Door Rufus comes out of the Guard house and walks directly up to Kalan.
Kalan	If you want to laugh at me again, don't bother.
Rufus	I'm not going to laugh at you, kid. You did a good job in there.
Kalan	Huh! A good job at failing. Now I'll never be any kind of warrior.
Rufus	Don't worry about it. Those guys aren't warriors either. They're just a bunch of fools who walk around in armour all day. The worst we get most of the time is a few drunks outside the pub.
Kalan	But what am I going to do now?
Rufus	Well, I did hear something, but you'd have to want to be a real warrior for this, none of this fake stuff like in there.
Kalan	I want to be a warrior more than anything else.
Rufus	That's the stuff. Right, all you have to do is march up to Lord Soryn's place. You know, the fancy Elf towers up at the top of town. They're looking for a few good tough kids just like you to go to Adonthell.
Kalan	Adonthell! The cursed island? Why would anyone want to go there?
Rufus	Don't ask me, I can't make sense out of anything an Elf does. But you had a few good moves in there. I think you might have what it takes. You think you want to try?
Kalan	I, I guess I do. What have I got to lose?
Rufus	Well you'd better get going then. They're having the tryouts today. Hope you make it! Rufus walks back into the Guard house.
Kalan	Adonthell, huh? I guess all I can do is try. Kalan starts to run off screen, but stops. He turns to look back in what we assume to be the direction of his home.
Kalan	Sorry Mother. It looks like I'll have to break my promise. Kalan runs off screen.
Fade	To title sequence